Chennai Metro could save 20pc in cost of construction if they adopt 5D BIM, says expert

Chennai:

Chennai Metro rail could save 20 per cent in cost of construction in the second phase if the five-dimensional building information modeling, a digital project management platform is introduced, according to regional sales director, Trimble buildings, India and SAARC, Harsh Pareek.

The five-dimensional (5D) Building information system refers to the intelligent linking of individual three-dimension Computer Aided Design (CAD) components or assemblies with time schedule.

Sketchpad” the first computer-aided design (CAD) with the graphical user interface led the way for human-computer interaction but more than that it broke the new ground for modeling programs in the construction industry resulting in the evolvement of BIM.

The 5D BIM will help project managers simulate models that show how changes in design, construction materials and layouts can change the face of the projects for the better. The total cost of the second phase of Chennai Metro rail project is estimated to be Rs 60, 335 crore.

However, the challenge is implementing 5D BIM in Chennai Metro Rail is that it has different stakeholders in the whole process. Paul Wallet, regional director, Trimble Buildings told Express that the key for the success of 5D BIM is that the information flow should be throughout the construction of the project from one stakeholder to another . “It should bring all stakeholders in one page,” he says.

Interestingly, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation has implemented 5D BIM, which is expected to save cost and reduce litigations from the twenty-thousand-crore-budget-projects being implemented in Nagpur and Pune. Wallet said that the Nasdaq listed Trimble's clients in India have been large construction firms such as L&T, Shapoorji Palloonji and its products have been used in construction of various metro and airport projects. "Our prducts have been used in the first phase of Chennai Metro and we hope our clients would offer the digital know-how in the construction of second phase," says Harsh Parekh.

Meanwhile, Wallet also highlighted that  Trimble will be setting up a technology lab at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, to serve architecture, engineering and construction students.

The lab would expand the IIT Madras leadership in training and research in 3D building design, digital fabrication and sustainable built environment.